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It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of really cold days. One of the things that gets me through the long winter months is the fashion. Layering cute tops with sweaters and of course the fabulous boots! On top of that great outfit you need a great statement coat. There are so many great styles to choose for this season, here are a few I found that are sure to appease anyone’s style and price point. If not, let me know and I can do a little more research to find what you are looking for: hilary@welldressedboston.com.

To view more images and shop click the images. (PS: I do make commission on products bought through my site, so thank you in advance if you do decide to purchase!)

Gifting a fragrance seems so cliché but that’s only if you don’t know how to do it right. My first experience with luxury fragrance was Tom Ford’s Black Orchid. I was immediately taken by how deep, pure and sensual it was. It didn’t smell overpowering, super sweet or overly diluted like some other lower level brands can. When you encounter a luxury fragrance you can tell right away that it was made with love, using the best oils, absolutes and extracts from nature to create a scent that the designer truly desires and isn’t just a quick, easy sell. There’s a lot of passion put into it and you feel it when you wear it.

One of the best parts of my job is getting to try these luxurious scents. It’s hard to get to know a fragrance without wearing it all day. The initial smell will not be the same after a few hours and some don’t stick around at all. With high-end scents you should get a lasting scent that works with your bodies natural oils to enhance the essence.

Here are some of my favorites. Click on the images to purchase or visit one of the amazing fragrance experts at Saks Boston. They’re so knowledgeable and will guide you to exactly what you want.

I don’t know about you, but I’m always shopping for holiday looks at the very last minute. It might be a little late for the holiday parties but you can still buy a killer outfit for New Years. Here are some ideas…

Mini- Dress by A.L.C. in Bordeaux.Click here or on the image for more details.

This sequin jumpsuit by ALEXIS is so dope. Click here or the image for details.

OMG I love this! Winter-white sequins by Bailey 44. Clear here for the image for details.

Whatever your thoughts are on the now infamous coat worn by the First Lady, she ignited a trend. Everywhere you look there are jackets making a statement, and I mean that literally. It seems as though you can not find a T-shirt without something written on it these days: Feminist, Love Wins, Rose All Day and the list goes on… Now this is translating to jackets and coats. There is a desire to have our clothes literally say something about who we are, what we are thinking and how we are feeling. And most of all, a way of expressing our fabulousness (is that a word?).

After a long winter, warmer days are finally upon us! I wasn’t inspired until now to really delve into spring/ summer fashion. But I’m ready now! And I’m looking at all the latest styles by top designers to find you the best collection of warm weather fashion you’ll find.

This season anything goes! From bright colors, to florals, to stripes, there is so much to choose from and I’m here to help you make sense of it all and figure out what suits your taste and lifestyle. If you want some help with your wardrobe this season remember to email me for your free wardrobe consultation: hilary@welldressedboston.com.

Ok let’s get started!!

Casual/ Chic is the ultimate trend right now and my favorite way to wear it is with some jogger pants. There are so many ways to dress this essential up or down. To work I wear a button down and kitten heels, casually a fitted t-shirt and sandal will do the job. This pair from Cinq a Sept is perfect ant it some in black too. Click the image to shop.

Colored stripes are everywhere this spring. This dress by Milly is a great way to wear it. Dresses are my favorite summer attire, so easy. For work you can throw on a blazer or a cardigan and weekends, pair it with sandals or sneakers.

As for florals, this blouse by Equipment is a beautiful option. It Looks great with these black jeans but pairing it with a patterned skirt would be adorable as well. Click on the image to shop the look.

Clear heels. To say I’m obsessed with these Schutz sandal is an understatement. These are perfect for those spring/ summer weddings and events you’re attending.

The “palm print.” It’s sort of been over done this season but I still love it. A great way to sport it with this adorable swimsuit.

Slides and Gucci. Slides are still having their moment and Gucci is too, not to say that Gucci isn’t always wonderful but it’s had an em emergence in popularity this year, #guccigang. As much as I do enjoy the current designs by Alessandro Michele, my favorite Gucci moment will always be when Tom Ford was the Creative Director. Maybe that’s because I’m a 90s girl. #agingmyself

I was catching up on some of the fashion blogs I like to read and came across Brooke Hil’s, Notebrooke.com. I often see her beautiful photos pop up in my insta feed but hadn’t gone as far as to click on her blog thinking it would be the same as all the rest. Turns out I couldn’t have been more wrong. I came across a very authentic, raw and wise post that really spoke to me as an aspiring … blogger?

I say that with a question mark as I’ve been in the fashion, fitness, lifestyle blogging game for a long time now with successes here and there, but nothing to write home about. In her latest post she talks about the strange world of celebrity fashion bloggers and what it takes to become one. One of the first mentions is how she was embarrassed to say she was a “fashion blogger” when she first started out and struggled to find meaning in it until she received a lovely letter from a reader who exclaimed her affinity for the realness and intellect in which Brooke’s blog is written. Writing not just about fashion but about things like career and depression as well.

I can appreciate this as I struggle to streamline what my blog is about. I love fashion as you all know, I’ve spent many hours honing my styling skills, working on fashion shows and magazine editorials, taking photos of myself and others in an #ootd that I find to be stylish and blog worthy. However I become a bit jaded and vapid when I find that most of my time is spent looking at the latest fashion mags, street style photos and as is with my job at Saks, being surrounded by designer wears. Besides the fact that I don’t want to be just another fashion blogger with the same content week after week, it doesn’t just bore my audience it bores me.

I strayed from my normal fashion posts when I had my first melt down of 2018 and posted it on my insta-feed. I had a crappy grocery shopping experience and gave a tirade about being nice and how common courtesy is not so common anymore. I questioned if I should have posted it as it shows a side to me I haven’t shared with my followers and wasn’t sure how it would be received. But then thought, this is real life and I like to see that real side of people not just the perfect outfit and mommy moment. I like to be relatable if I can and want to share that with people and make that connection that we are all human and have our good and bad days. Besides the fact that I am so far from perfect that I can’t possibly fake perfection for that long!

Finding balance between “realness” and aspiration is tough. I sell designer brands that are wonderful but generally speaking, not in my price point. I like to show off these beautiful clothes and shoes but don’t want to give the wrong perception that all I wear is designer. I am very much a “fashion within reach” stylist and blogger. It helps to see what the high-end designers are putting out to try and emulate it with pieces I might already have or are available for much less. I will continue to try and do that as I will branch out and share my love of family, fashion, fitness, and as the ups and downs of being a mother, women, wife, employee and human being.

What’s in store for 2018? I don’t know but I’m going to make the best of it and keep going… gotta go my middle child is whining at me to make him oatmeal.

I had a conversation with my family last week about the importance of being well dressed, or simply dressed appropriately for the occasion. When I say “occasion” it could mean going to a wedding, heading to the office or simply going to the gym.

The conversation came up when my husband was frustrated that my kids wear gym shorts to school everyday. He wants them to take a little more pride in their dress and wear something a bit nicer. I understand his point of view, although being in grade school they have gym class, recess and come home to immediately run around in the dirt outside. So I really have no problem with the way they dress but it was good to have to conversation and really start instilling in them the value of being well dressed.

The way we dress effects so much of our lives, how others perceive us to how we perform at work and any other activity we partake in. A good example is my experience at work yesterday. I dressed appropriately, however when I got to Saks, where I work as a stylist, I noticed my shirt was very wrinkled. It made me feel extremely unkempt, uncomfortable and confident. Luckily I have a steamer at my job but if I didn’t have that option I would have felt sloppy and not ready to take on the world. Which is how everyone needs to feel when they go to work no matter what you do. Some of you may think this is silly, but the way we look affects the way we feel and how we perform.

Here are a few tips for preparing yourself to look and feel your best on a daily basis:

Arrange your closet in a way that helps you pick outfits quickly and efficiently. This involves color coordinating, hanging shirts pants and blazers separately. If you don’t have a big closet with separate sections you can do this by creating different sections from left to right and maybe getting different colored hangers for each category to help keep the organized. I also need assistance in the closet organizing area and will share any tips and tricks I come across with you all. Please share some of your!

Daily planning. Prepare your outfit the night before. When I do this it makes my morning so much easier! Another tip: make sure it’s ironed!

Weekly planning. Think about what your doing in your week ahead and be sure all the clothing and accessories you will be needing are dry cleaned, ironed, washed etc…

Life planning. Think about all the activities you do or perhaps want to do. Whether you’re working, brunching, sweating… you need to dress how you want to feel during these activities. Yes, even at the gym! When I workout in grungy clothes because that all that is clean, I don’t feel or perform my best.

Do your research. Unsure what it means to dress well? As a stylist I know this is an ever evolving art form. You may think that sounds dramatic, but to me it’s an art and that’s why I love it. It’s a wonderful way to express yourself and be creative. Flip through the pages of Vogueor InStyle to get some ideas on what’s current and stylish. Maybe ask a friend who’s style you admire to give you some tips. If you want my help email me for a free consultation: hilary@welldressedboston.com.